Le’Veon Bell powered Steelers past Dolphins in his playoff debut

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Miami Dolphins by a final of 30-12 in the Wild Card round at Heinz Field. Here are five things you should know about this game.

Bell runs wild in playoff debut

Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell ran right through Miami’s defense with ease. He kept running up the middle to take on defenders, and he dragged them to gain extra yards. Pittsburgh’s offense line consistency created rushing lanes for the young runner.

He ran with patience and toughness, so Ben Roethlisberger kept handing the ball off to him. Bell finished the first half with 99 yards and a touchdown.

Bell continued to dominate in the second half. Miami’s defense couldn’t bring him to the ground, and Bell ran in an 8-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach at 30-6.

He ran for 167 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns. Bell also broke the Steelers’ single-game playoff rushing record in the first three quarters.

Big Ben and Brown were lethal

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown were on the same page in this game. The veteran QB knew who to throw the ball to when the team needed a big play, and Brown delivered. They wreaked havoc on Miami’s defense early.

On Pittsburgh’s first possession of the game, Roethlisberger capped off a five-play, 85-yard drive with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Brown on a screen. Tight end Jesse James made the block that set Brown free along the sidelines.

One possession later, the veteran quarterback hooked up with his go-to receiver again for a 62-yard touchdown. Brown beat man-to-man coverage. Roethlisberger found Brown running across the middle, and the veteran receiver ran past defenders for the long touchdown. That touchdown extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 14-0.

Roethlisberger made quick decisions with the football, and his receivers did a great job of breaking tackles to gain yards. He threw an interception to Dolphins safety Michael Thomas late in the second quarter and one to cornerback Xavien Howard in the fourth.

Roethlisberger and Brown didn’t do much in the second half. The veteran quarterback threw for 197 yards to go along with two touchdowns and two interceptions on just 18 attempts. Brown finished with five catches on nine targets for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Ajayi wasn’t a factor

When the Steelers and Dolphins met in Week 6, Miami’s running back Jay Ajayi ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins won, 30-15. Pittsburgh did not let the young running back free Sunday. He was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on multiple plays, and Miami’s rushing offense couldn’t gain any traction.

You have to give credit to Pittsburgh’s front seven, though. They clogged up rushing lanes and made a lot of tackles. Ajayi left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. He ran for 33 yards on 16 carries.

Matt Moore’s up-and-down performance

Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore didn’t perform well. While Moore only led his team to the end zone once, he made some great throws and kept drives alive. His toughness was also on full display during this game.

Down 20-3 midway through the second quarter, Moore took a helmet-to-helmet hit by Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree. The veteran signal caller scrambled out of the pocket to extend a play and took the hit after he released the ball. The pass fell incomplete, and Moore was on the ground in pain.

Dupree was called for roughing the passer. Ajayi was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after he pushed Dupree. Moore went to the sidelines to go through the NFL’s concussion protocol, passed it, and returned to the game after just one play. Backup quarterback T.J. Yates filled in for him on that play.

Down 20-6 late in the second quarter, following Roethlisberger’s interception, Moore led the Dolphins to the red zone. But linebacker James Harrison sacked him, the ball come out, and Pittsburgh recovered it.

In the second half, Moore led Miami down the field on its first possession. But Steelers safety Mike Mitchell hit the veteran quarterback from behind, the ball came out, and Pittsburgh recovered it.

Moore threw an interception to Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier during Miami’s second possession of the second half. Late in the forth quarter, the veteran quarterback threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Damien Williams to cut the lead to 30-12.

Moore threw for 289 yards to go along with a touchdown and an interception.

First time’s the charm

Believe it or not, this is the first time where Brown, Bell, and Roethlisberger all appeared in a playoff game together. If this game is any indication of how this offense will perform with all three players in the lineup, Steelers fans have to be excited.

This offense was clicking on all cylinders. When Pittsburgh is balanced on offense, this team can light up the scoreboard. Opposing defenses in the playoffs, beware of this offense.

What’s next for both teams

Pittsburgh will head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the Divisional round. The Steelers offense must continue to score points.

Miami will begin its offseason, but this was an incredible year for a team that battled through some major injuries. The Dolphins will certainly be a good team next season.